The other Board member is an ex-officio member designated by the Chairman of Appalachian Council of Governments. The Board is mostly comprised of directors with background and expertise in internal controls, financial risk management, commercial lending, legal issues relating to commercial lending, and corporate governance. The current Board members are:
President – Tom Britt, President, Bank of Travelers Rest
Vice President – R. Kemper Kenan, City Executive for First Reliance Bank
Secretary/Treasurer – Ralph Guarino, Finance Director, Pickens County
Kimberly Mode, Market President, United Community Bank
Jim Cook, Executive Director, Cherokee County Development Board
Steve Pelissier, Ex Officio – Executive Director, SC Appalachian Council of Governments
Dale Seay, Spartanburg County – Commercial Real Estate Agent with Spencer Hines Properties
Glenn Buddin, Vice President – Branch Administration, The Citizens Bank
Richard Blackwell, Vice President of Development– Southeast, Agracel, Inc.
Grantham A. Nicholson, Director of SBA Lending – Community First Bank
Lamar Bailes, Oconee County – Board Member Emeritus